Researchers publishing in the Annals of Internal Medicine looked at health records for about 114,000 elderly people who had never had a heart attack when the research started. About 70 percent of the group had a history of taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Compared to those who took aspirin, naproxen, meloxicam, and the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (Celebrex), people who took Vioxx were significantly more likely to experience a heart attack. The effect was more pronounced as the dose of Vioxx increased.

On the positive side, researchers found no increased risk of heart attack among individuals who used Vioxx in the year prior to the study but discontinued use. Results also indicated use of aspirin along with low-dose Vioxx seemed to mitigate the heart attack risk. However, the study did find it only took a few Vioxx prescriptions to raise the risk. For people who had a heart attack, the average number of prescriptions dispensed was about five.

The study found no increased risk of heart attack among patients taking any of the other NSAIDs, including Celebrex. However, noting a recent study has linked high doses of that drug with cancer, they call for more research to determine the safety of all COX-2 inhibitors.

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, published online Jan. 31,2005